Alaska's Melissa Refuerzo drops to her knees to collect a shot from the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders during Saturday evening's, Nov. 14, 2009, Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at the Patty Center. - John Wagner/News-Miner
Northwest Nazarene's Kelly VanElderen, right, blocks a shot by Alaska's Heather Lyons during Saturday evening's, Nov. 14, 2009, Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at the Patty Center. At left is VanElderen's teammate Becky Flores. - John Wagner/News-Miner
Megan Thigpen, Alexa Sherman, Jessica Hill, Heather Lyons and Hannah Armstrong went out in style as the Nanooks posted a thrilling 25-18, 13-25, 26-24, 25-15, 15-11 victory against the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders in front of 292 fans on Senior Night at the Patty Center.
“It was a senior-laden match and they all contributed very importantly to the victory,” Nanooks coach Phil Shoemaker said. “It was a great way for them to close out their careers and our season.”
The Nanooks finished the season with a 12-15 overall mark and a 6-10 record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
The Nanooks seemed to have a penchant for pulling out five-set matches this season.
“The sets that we won tonight were highly competitive,” Shoemaker said. “The sets that we lost, we did not perform anywhere close to our capabilities and got blown out.
“Somehow we were able to find a little magic and finish it out,” he added.
The Nanooks never trailed in the fifth and deciding set, although Northwest Nazarene rallied to tie the match at 7, 8, 9 and 11 before the Nanooks closed it out with four straight points.
Thigpen’s kill gave Alaska a 12-11 lead. That was followed by a Northwest Nazarene attack error, another Thigpen kill and a Hill kill to seal the deal.
Thigpen closed out an incredible career with 20 kills, nine digs and a pair of aces. Hill registered 17 kills, seven digs and two aces. Lyons had 15 kills and 13 digs. Sherman put up 52 assists and registered 13 digs. Armstrong had five digs.
“This was a great group of five seniors and I’m proud of them, Shoemaker said. “They are going to go on and do great things.”
Even with the seniors departing, Shoemaker said the Nanooks have a bright future.
“Replacing this group is going to be a challenge, but we do have a good nucleus coming back,” he said. “Now Amy (assistant coach Phelps) and I have to go out on the recruiting trail and find the people to fill in the gaps.”
Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.
Post a Comment